Pallet for supporting materials



ay 1952 B. E. VANKRIMPEN 2,597,411

PALLET FOR SUPPORTING MATERIALS Filed Jan. 16, 194B 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 a E H fizz/ ara Z? mil/(impel AM? A Jig. 1.

y 1952 B. E. VANKRIMPEN 2,597,411

PALLET FOR SUPPORTING MATERIALS Filed Jan. 16, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 J g- 5'. IigJa- Ber/70rd E Vary/rump n L53 AMA 4,19%

Patented May 20, 1952 PALLET FOR SUPPORTING MATERIALS Bernard E. Vankrimpen, Lorain, Ohio, assignor to United States Steel Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 16, 1948, Serial No. 2,618

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a pallet for supporting materials and more particularly to such a pallet for supporting sheets and coils of steel. Pallets as currently constructed consist of a series of pairs of cross members each made up of a top and bottom support member nailed to a wooden sleeper or 2 X 4 extending between and in the same direction as the support members. The pairs of top and bottom support members so constructed are connected in a laterally spaced relationship by means of transversely extending deck members nailed to the surfaces of the support members. It is obvious, that with thisconstruction the prongs of a lift truck or other lifting mechanism could be inserted only from the two open end directions because of the wooden sleeper nailed between the top and bottom support members. Lifting operations decrease the useful life of this pallet, especially after the lumber has dried out with attendant shrinking;

During the lifting operation tension is put on the nails holding the sleeper to the support members and when the load is released the lifted nail heads are driven back into the sleeper by the Weight pressed thereon. With frequent use and particularly when the sleepers and cross members are dried out, the nail holes become larger and the nails become loose so that frequent redriving or replacement of these nails is necessary to keep the pallet in tight construction.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pallet that is strong, light, and durable.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a pallet wherein the wooden separators are replaced by metal tubular separators.

Still another object is to provide a, pallet that can be lifted from four directions rather than the two directions possible with the presently used pallets.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specifications and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the assembled pallet;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the metal tubular separator and washers of one embodiment of my invention in place;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the separator shown in Figure 2;

Figure l is a top view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top view of the type washer used with the separator shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5a is a segmental top view similar to Figure 5, but showing the washer used with the separator of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is an elevational View of the metal tubular separator of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing a third embodiment of my invention;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the separator shown in Figure 7 and Figure 9 is a top view of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates separators which are used to connect the support members 4 and 6. Each separator is fabricated from a length of metal tubing having prongs 8 in each end thereof. The prongs 8 pass through slots is which are provided in metal washers l2, one of which is provided between each end of the separator 2 and the contacting surfaces of support members l and 6. The prongs 8 extending from the slots ID are imbedded in the support members 4 and 6 with their ends bent over at I l. The

edges of the metal washers I2 are crimped at 6 and driven into the support members 4 and 6. The pallet is made up of a plurality of assemblies of members i and 6 connected with separator 2, the assemblies being connected by means of deck members 13 which are attached to the support members 4 and 6.

The second embodiment of my invention is shown in Figures 5a and 6. In this embodiment, the separator 20 consists of a length of metal tubing to the sides of which are fused or welded a number of double pointed rods or nails 22 at spaced intervals, with the ends of the rods or nails projecting from the ends of the metal tubing. The metal Washer 24 used with this separator is similar to washer I2, but is provided with circular openings 26 to permit passage of the rods 22. The ends of the welded rods or nails 22 are imbedded and clinched in support members 4 and 6 in the same manner as are the prongs B.

The washer in both of the above described embodiments serves a dual purpose, namely, first to transfer the load onto the tubular separator and provide the required bearing surface on the wood with which it is in contact. Secondly, during the intermittent loading and unloading of the pallets, the washers keep the prongs 8 or rods 22 in constant tension and prevent the same from becoming loose in the pallet through use or the drying of the wood.

Figures 7, 8, and 9 show still another embodiment of my invention in which no metal washers are used. In this embodiment a number of slits are cut into the ends of the length of metal tubing 28, the slits being made at an angle so that sharp prongs 30 are provided in the ends when the metal therebetween is bent outwardly to form the flanges 32. The flanges are bent to an angle 34 of less than 90, for example 85". The edges of the flanges 32 are crimped and imbedded into the support members 4 and 6 as shown at 36 in the same manner as washers -l2 and 24 .while the prongs--30 are bent and imbedded as shown at 38 in the same manner as described for prongs 8.

In the assembling operation for the first; two embodiments of my invention support members 4 and 6 are placed above and below theseparators with the two washers placed as shown, The support members and separators ,are thenpressed together in a steel press, the prongs or rod points being clinched and the washer edgesbeing driven into the supporting members, as shown, by the plates of the press.

The pallet construction shown in Figure '7 is assembled in the same manner except that metal washers are not used, but are replaced by the bent over flanges 32 of the separator itself.

While three embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pallet comprising a series of spaced apart support members, means connecting said support members in spaced lateral relationship, a plurality of tubular separators spaced at intervals between said support members, a plurality of prongs projecting from the ends of each separator, said prongs being imbedded in the support members, washers located between the tubular separators and the support members, said washers having openings spaced at intervals in the surfaces thereof to permit passage of the prongs projecting from the ends of the tubular separators, and crimps in the edges of said washers imbedded in the support members.

2. A pallet comprising a series of spaced apart support members, means connecting said support members in spaced lateral relationship, a plurality of tubular separators spaced at intervals between said support members, and a plurality of pointed-rods attached to the sides of each tubular separatorand spaced at intervals about its periphery, the points of said rods extending beyond the ends of the tubular separator and being imbedded in the support members.

3. A pallet comprising a series of spaced apart support members, means connecting said support members in spaced lateral relationship, a plurality of tubular separators spaced at intervals between said support members, and a plurality of pointed rods attached to the sides of each tubular separator and spaced at intervals about its periphery, the points of said rods extending beyond the ends of the tubular separator and being imbedded in the support members, washers located between the tubular separators and the support members, said washers having openings support members, means connecting said support members in [spaced lateral relationship, a plurality of tubular separators spaced at intervals between said support members, a plurality of spaced apart prongs on the ends of said tubular separators',.a plurality of flanges on the ends of said separators extending outwardly between said prongs at the' b'ase thereof, and crimps in the edges. of said "flanges, said prongs and crimps being'imbedded in the support members.

5. A separator extending between two members arranged in spaced apart relationship comprising a metal tube and prongs projecting from the ends of said tube adapted to be imbedded in the separated members.

6. A separator extending between two members arranged in spaced apart relationship comprising a metal tube and a plurality of pointed rods attached to the sides of said tube and spaced at intervals about its periphery, the points of said rods extending beyond the ends of the tube and adapted to be imbedded in the separated members.

7. A separator comprising a metal tube extending between two members arranged in spaced apart relationship, a plurality of spaced apart prongs on the ends of said tube, a plurality of flanges on the ends of said tube extending outwardly between said prongs at the base thereof, and crimps in the edges of said flanges, said prongs and crimps being imbedded in the support members.

8. A pallet comprising a series of spaced apart support members, means connecting said support members in spaced lateral relationship, a plurality of tubular separators spaced at intervals between said support members, a plurality of prongs projecting from the ends of each separator, said prongs being imbedded in the support members, washers located between the tubular separators and the support members, said washers having openings spaced at intervals in the surfaces thereof to permit passage of the prongs projecting from the ends of the tubular separators.

BERNARD E. VANKRIMPEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

